Bearing



A. KINGSBURY.

BEARING. I APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, I918- Patented m 4, 1922 2 SHEETSSHEET l.

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STATES Application filed January 23, 1918.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that l. ALBERT Krncseunr, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented certain new and useful 'lniprovemerits in Bearings, of which the following is a specification. reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to bearings and has special reference to thrust bearings of the type wherein bearing segments are so constructed and mounted as to flex or tilt automatically in response to the wedging action of the lubricant between the bearing surfaces.

Une object of my invention is to provide, in a bearing of the aforesaid character, simple and improved ineans equal zing or equitably distributing the pressure among the several bearing segments shall be flexible and substantially con" which may be conveniently eistructing equalizing means hat are annular in shape.

Another object is to orov means comprisin n members tween thorn.

Another object is provi e method of 'manuiacturin means of this kind that sna character economical oian equalizof interdean effective equal zing oe simple in -ateriai nd materially reduce the cost of the bearing.

order that invention may thoroughly understood I will now proceed to describe the same in the following specification then point out the novel fee tures theieoi in appended cla" The inventionis capable o eceiving a variety of mechanical expires us, one or v hich is shown on the accorn dying drawlout is to be expressl understood thetthe drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits, of the ii'wention ference being hadto the appended claims that PHTPOSG; Y

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal section oi a bearing arranged an constructed in accordance with my inve "liUflllHlGliii thereo The view is Specification of Letters Patent.

and yed in conand constituting Patented July 4 l fllfic Serial no. eraser.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional detail taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l showing particularly my unproved means for equalizing equitably distributing the pressure among the several bearing segments.

Figure 4- is a transverse section of the equalizing means taken on the line iel of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view, taken on the line 55 of Figure 2, developed into a single plane and drawn to a larger scale.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are detail views illustrating the steps in my improved method 12 1 or manufacturing the equalizing in cans lfigures ,9 and 10 are detallvlew s of if the bearing segments or shoes.

in the structure illustrated 10 designates the shaft and 11 a thrust collar affixed thereto any suitable way, as by a nut 12 which presses it against a shoulder 13 and a l which prevents its turning relative to, sear-t.

'lhe thrust co r is disnosed g housing 15 v in the embo lustrated has the form of a hollow or drum with opening 16 in the rough which l0 ei ends, a ovable cover plate 17. ,csigna e m0 drain plug the bottom of the housand 19 an oil inlet pipe at the top.

'6; rust collar has a nsir of 2 caring surrac bearing segia a s e. Disposec in the housing near its "ve ends are base rings in Whlfil D l "f e na uers 23 are mounted the ceasing shoes 21 i e "lg tiltaoly mounted on said equalizers resent invention is particularly 0 with the syst ms 03 eoualizers, with the method o inal. g the sat and the lease rings W. h are combine therewith to forrn what may be convenie ly termed equalizing structures.

equ i ng structures are alike l 0 one will be necessary for one or both of its upper and lower faces to provide rocking or tilting bearings as hereinafter explained, said projections being shown as on the lower face only and taking the form of radial ribs or knife edges 25.

' A plurality of radial holes 26 are first drilled or otherwise formed in thering at substantially equal intervals determined by the desired number and size of the equalizer plates which are to form parts of the complete structure.

The ring is next radially slotted at 27 and 28, the slots being positioned so as to break into the holes 26 and divide the ring into a plurality of equalizer plates. The cuts 28 at the respective sides of each of the knife edge projections 25' are separated as far as it is possible to separate them, and still have them break into the holes. The cuts 27 on the opposite side, which complete the equalizer plates are disposed relatively close together. In this Way the ring 24 is divided into a number of equalizer plates 29 having radial knife edge supporting projections 25 and curved ledges 30, and a number of briging plates 31, each of which has overhanging projections with curved edges 32 and is adapted to bridge a pair of plates 29.

The equalizing structure is completed by mounting the equalizing plates 29 and 31 in the bottom of the channel-shaped base ring 22 and inserting rolling members such as pins 33 in the holes 26 between -said plates 29 and 31. When pins 33 are-used they are preferably made a little longer than the plates are wide so that they extend loosely into holes 34 in the outer wall of the base ring. The outer ends of these holes may be closed by plugs 35 to prevent the pins working out. The pins 33 which constitute bearing rollers are intended to be illustratlve of any suitable rolling bearing members, and for example, may be replaced by one or more balls or the like, independent means then being used forv holding the plates in position. These pins are of slight lysmaller diameter than the holes 26 and act as roller connections between the adjacent ends of the assembled equalizer plates, thereby securing great flexibility and ease of movement between the annularly disposed elements of the divided ring.

The pins also serve to hold the plates in position but since they fit "loosely into the holes 3'4 they do not interfere with the rocking of the plates incident to the automatic equalization or equitable distribution of the pressure among the several segments or shoes.

The bearing segments-or shoes are preferably provided with spherical or cylindrical faced lugs or projections 36 (see Figs. 10 an 9 respectively) and are mounted on the blocks 31, but if desired, the blocks 31 may be provided with the outwardly extend ing knife edge projections on which the shoes are mounted.

The shoes are held in position relative to each other and are prevented from turning with the thrust collar in the form shown, by means of lugs 38 which are attached to the housing 15 and extend inwardly between the edges of adjacent shoes.

The construction shown and described requires only relatively simple machining op; ,erations such as drilling and sawing as 'above indicated and, furthermore, the complete system of equalizer plates is formed from a single blank without waste. The

ins or rollers between the shoes are a particularly effective and simple means of accomplishing the joint purpose of providing a rolling bearing between the parts of the equalizer and of holding the parts loosely in position.

\Vhen the equalizing structure, and the bearing segments or shoes tiltably supported thereon, are subjected to end thrust, the individual elements 29 and 31 of the divided ring structures 2324 flex or tilt longitudinally or circumferentially in such manner as to automatically equalize or equitably distribute the thrust pressure on all of said bearing members. In this action the divided ring acts in precisely the same manner as the original integral ring member 24 would do if the latter was made thin and pliant. The division of the integral ring into a series of short sectors, and the flexible interconnection of these sectors at their overlapping adjacent ends, permits the desired longitudinal flexibility to be obtained without any reduction in the cross-section of the ring. The interposition of the rolling or rocking elements 33 'between the interconnected overlapping ends of the equalizer ring parts reduces the resistance to the relative movement between the said parts and thus contributes to the attainment of the greatest possible longitudinal or circumferential flexibility of the ring as a whole But the members 29 and 31 which are cut from the integral ring 2% together with the roller members 33,- when they are assembled in position and subjected, to transverse pressure-constitute, in effect and action, a substantially continuous flexible ring structure which performs the same functions in equalizing or equitably distributing the pressures on the various bearing segments or shoes supported thereby as would be performed, in somewhat lesser degree and with somewhat less efficiency, by -a longitudinally flexible integral ring correspondingly mounted (on separated knife edges 2525, etc.) on the base ring 22. For this reason I do not herein broadly claim any such equalizing struc ture as that just described as that is the subject matter of a much earlier application (see No. 80,569 filed Feb. 26, 1916). Nor

is the method of making the equalizing means claimed herein, such tormingrthe subject-matter oi claims in my copending application Serial No. 4 N593 filed Eeb. 25, 1921. The structure herein described may however be quite widely varied-particularly as to the shape of the equalizing means, which for example need not be a complete annulus, and as to the nature of the rolling connections between the divided ring sectorsand I intend that only such limitations be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

Whatl claim is:

1. In a bearing, the, combination with bearing means, of an equalizing system for distributing the pressure thereon comprising a plurality of interdependent members, and means for reducing the friction between said members and increasing the flexibility of the equalizing system.

2. In a bearing, the combination with hearing means, of an equalizer for distributing the pressure thereon comprising plurality of interdependent members, and rolling bearings between said members.

3. in a bearing, the combination with hearing means, of a substantially continuous equalizer comprising a. plurality of interdependent members, and means for providing a rolling bearing connection between the members and for holding the mernbers in position.

4:. ln a bearing, the combination with bearing means, of substantially continuous equalizer comprising a plurality of interdependent members, and rolling bearings between said members.

5. In a bearing, the combination with bearing means, of an equalizer comprising a pluralityof interdependent members and rolling bearings between said members, and a retaining wall adjacent to said equalizer and having spaced holes substantially opposite said rolling bearing members through which the latter are removable.

- 6. In a bearing, the combination with hearing means, of an equalizer comprising a plurality 01 equalizer plates, bridging plates mounted on adjacent pairs of the equalizer plates and interposed bearing pins between the plates, a retaining wall adjacent the equalizer and having spaced holes into which the bearing pins extend, and removable plugs in the holes for removably holding the pins in position.

7. An equalizer for thrust bearings comprising a plurality of spaced equalizer plates, bridging plates interposed between the equalizer plates, and roller bearing pins connecting the adjacent ends of the two sets of plates.

8. An equalizer'for thrust bearings comprising a plates, lori go plates interposed between the lurality of separated equalizer equalizer plates, and a rolling bearing connection between the ends of adjacent plates.

9. An equalizer for thrust bearings comprising a plurality of spaced equalizing plates, brid ing plates mounted upon adjacent ends 0 the equalizer plates, and means interposed between the plates to form roller bearing connections therefor.

10. an equalizer for thrust bearings comprising a plurality of sector-shaped equalizing plates, bridging plates mounted on adjacent ends of the equalizing plates, and radial pins forming roller bearing-connections between the plates.

11. An equalizer for thrust bearings cornprising a plurality of sector-shaped equalizlng plates, bridging plates mounted on adacent ends of the equalizing plates, and

radial pins forming roller bearings between the plates and extending outwardly to hold the plates in position without interfering with the equalizing action of the s ructure.

1 12 An equalizing structure for thrust oearings comprismg a base ring an annular channel formed therein, a plurality of equalizing plates tilt-ably mounted in the bottom of the channel, plates mounted on the equalizing plates, and roll ing members interposed between the the plates.

An equalizer for thrust bearings comprising a. base member having a ch nnel formed therein, recesses in one wall c channel, a plurality of equalizing mounted in the bottom or the channel, h ing plates mounted on the. equalizing plates, and independent -members associated vitl'i the plates and extending the recesses ror holding the plates in position without interfering with the equalizing action.

14. An equalizing structure for thrust bearings comprising a base ring having an annular channel formed therein, radial recesses in one wall of the channel, a plurality of plates tiltably mounted in the bottom of the channel, bridging plates mounted on the equalizing plates, and. interposed bearing pins extending radially into the recesses of the base ring.

15. An equalizer for thrust bearings comprising a plurality 0r separated equalizer plates, and bridging plates mounted upon adjacent ends of the equalizer plates, the overlapping ends ofsaid plates having a rolling bearing connection therebetween.

16. An equalizer for thrust bearings comprising a substantially-continuous flexible series of overlapped plates and rolling bearings between the overlapped ends of said plates.

17. An equalizer for thrust bearings comprising a substantially-continuous flexible series of overlapped plates having radial apertures at the overlapping ends of said plates and rollers in said radial apertures.

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ridgl8. An equalizer for thrust bearings comprising a substantially-continuous flexible series of overlapped plates, the overlapped ends of said plates being constructed to coact with rolling bearing members, and rolling bearing members interposed between the overlapped ends of said plates.

19. In a bearing, in combination with bearing means, a substantially-continuous flexible equalizer comprising a plurality of interdependent members having a rolling bearing connection therebetween.

20. In a bearing, in combination with bearing means, an equalizer therefor comprising a series of interdependent members, a base member on which said interdependent members are mounted, and means coacting with said base and interdependent members and providing positioning means and rolling bearing connections for said interdependent members.

21. In a bearing, in. combination with a plurality of bearing segments, means for equitably distributing the pressure on said segments comprising a series of plates having their adjacent ends in overlapped relationship and rolling means interposed between said overlapped ends,

22. In a bearing,-in combination with a plurality of bearing segments, means for equitably distributing the pressure on said segments comprising a series of interdependent members and means interposed between the adjacent ends of said members affording a. rocking connection therebetween.

23. In a bearing, in combination with a plurality of bearing segments, means for equitably distributing the pressure on said segments comprising a series of overlapping members having anti-friction means between the adjacent ends of said members.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of January, 1918.

ALBERT KINGSBURY 

